Dispenser of flexible material, provided with a multi-roll holder

ABSTRACT

The dispenser comprises a receptacle with side elements and a front wall or a panel. The latter extends upwardly, short of an upper part of the receptacle, and provides a loading opening adaptable for supplying rolls, one by one into the receptacle. The front wall or panel extends, as well, downwardly, short of a lower part of the receptacle, and provides a withdrawal opening for removing a roll which is located at the bottom of the receptacle. A dispensing device is located in front of the withdrawal opening at the lower part of the receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention refers, in general, to dispensers and holders for rolls and, more particularly, to a dispenser of flexible material, provided with a multi-roll holder.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] There have been numerous types of dispensers for flexible material, in which one roll is held in a dispensing position, and an additional roll or rolls are held in a reserved position.

[0005] Attempts have been made in the past to develop improved dispensers for this purpose. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,754, dated Oct. 6, 1987 and granted to Duff for a “Toilet Roll Holder and Dispenser” discloses a receptacle for holding rolls. The receptacle incorporates a pivotal element, so arranged that, when the lowermost roll is a dispensing condition, it impedes the rest of the rolls to descend. When the lowermost roll has been finished, a sliding member adapted to be engaged by a finger of a person through a dispensing opening, is pulled. Thus, the sliding member acts on the pivotal element to allow the dropping of a roll into a dispensing roll condition. In this situation, the pivotal element holds again the stack of spare rolls separate from the roll from which paper is been dispensing. This device has an important shortcoming. The use of a pivotal element and a sliding member renders this device complicated and more expensive. U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,221, dated Oct. 18, 1983 and granted to Vallis et al. for a “Toilet Roll Dispenser” teaches the use of a dispenser for rolls. The dispenser has obvious disadvantages. The elongated receptacle is complicated: it uses a resilient obstruction and apertures. It also requires certain dexterity in manipulating the rolls throughout the apertures. U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,679, dated Feb. 9, 1982 and granted to Paul et al. for a “Roll Holder and Dispenser” discloses a device comprising an elongated receptacle whit a first apertures where the rolls are inserted and a second aperture from where a web of roll material can be withdrawn. Near the second aperture there is a flange used for separating the upper stored rolls from the bottom useable rolls. A side aperture is situated in a sidewall at the same level as the flange. When it is desired to pull a roll down from the storage position, it is necessary to insert a finger through the side aperture and engage the center core of a roll and pull it downward past the side flange, to the useable position at the bottom end of the elongated receptacle. Paul's et al. device has the same disadvantages as those identified in the above-mentioned patent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] There is accordingly a need for a dispenser provided with a holder, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide an improved device-holder and dispenser compact, easy to use and inexpensive.

[0007] Broadly stating, the dispenser of flexible material provided with a multi-roll holder, comprises in combination the following parts:

[0008] 1. A receptacle means provided with side elements and a front wall or panel. The latter extends upwardly, short of an upper part of the receptacle means, and provides a loading opening as to be adaptable for supplying rolls, one by one into receptacle means. The front wall or panel extends, as well, downwardly short of a lower part of the receptacle means, and provides a withdrawal opening for removing a roll which is located at the bottom of the receptacle means.

[0009] 2. Dispensing means located, in front of the withdrawal opening at a lower part of the receptacle means. The dispensing means is firmly attached to the receptacle means. The distance between the side elements is slightly greater than the width of the rolls, which are used in the receptacle means. The depth of the receptacle means corresponds substantially to the maximum diameter of the rolls.

[0010] In one aspect of this invention the receptacle means incorporates, firstly a rectangular outer frame, which forms an open structure or rim, and, secondly, an inner frame. A front part of the inner frame is encased by the outer frame which is adaptable to be supported in a recess formed in a wall.

[0011] In another aspect of this invention the receptacle means has the shape of a box and is adaptable to be located flush with a wall.

[0012] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a dispenser of flexible material is adaptable to be attached to a side element and to a lower part of a front element, both elements being incorporated in a receptacle means. The latter is adapted for holding several rolls. The lowermost of the several rolls sits on the bottom of the receptacle means. The dispenser of flexible material comprises three basic components:

[0013] 1. A pivotable bracket, adapted to extend outwardly from the side element, is hinged to the side element, so it can be placed perpendicular to side element.

[0014] 2. A rigid spindle perpendicular to the pivotable bracket to which it is firmly secured. This rigid spindle is adaptable to be located parallel to the longitude axis of the lowermost roll which sits on the bottom of the receptacle means.

[0015] 3. A pivotable cover of curved shape adapted to be hinged with its interior edge to a lower part of the front element. The pivotable cover incorporates, as well, two panels. The internal distance between the two panels is slightly greater than the distance between an outside surface of the pivotable bracket and the outside end of the rigid spindle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment, wherein an outer frame is used, part of the device being located in a recess in the wall;

[0017]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment, wherein no outer frame is used, the whole device being attached to the surface of a wall;

[0018]FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the first embodiment;

[0019]FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the second embodiment;

[0020]FIG. 5 shows a frontal view of the first embodiment;

[0021]FIG. 6 shows a frontal view of the second embodiment;

[0022]FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment, wherein a different dispensing fixture is shown in a working position; and

[0023]FIG. 8 shows the above embodiment with the dispensing fixture in a loading position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] In a first embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser of flexible material provided with a multi-roll holder is shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 9, and is broadly denoted by reference number 10. In the present example, wood is used. Plastic material or metal may also be used. Dispenser 10 includes an elongated receptacle 12 for storing a plurality of toilet-paper rolls 14, and a dispensing fixture 16 for releasing toilet tissue from a toilet-paper roll 14, placed in the dispensing fixture 16. Dispensing fixture 16 is attached to a lower part of elongated receptacle 12, in front of the lowermost toilet-paper roll 14. Elongated receptacle 12 incorporates an outer frame 18, which forms an open structure or rim, which encases or borders a front part of an inner frame 20. Since the joining together of outer and inner frames 18 and 20, respectively, is well known to those skilled in the art, further detailed discussion of this aspect is not deemed necessary. Inner frame 20 comprises a front wall 22, sidewalls 24, a rear wall 26, a top wall 28, and a bottom wall 30. Sidewalls 24 are substantially flush forwardly with the front face of outer frame 18. A part of inner frame 20, which extends beyond outer frame 18, is adaptable to be supported in a recess formed in a wall. The back surface of outer frame 18 is flush with the wall. Thus, dispenser 10 provides a more esthetically, pleasing surface. Front wall 22 terminates upwardly short of an upper internal edge of outer frame 18 and provides a loading opening 32 of such dimension as to permit supplying of rolls, one by one, into elongated receptacle. In a present example, the distance between sidewalls 24 is slightly greater than the width of a conventional toilet tissue, but if the distance is made wider, rolls of paper towels etc., may be accommodated. The internal depth of elongated receptacle 12 corresponds to the maximum diameter of the rolls. Front wall 22 terminates downwardly short of the lower edge of outer frame 18 and provides, a withdrawal opening 34 facing dispenser fixture 16. The dimension of withdrawal opening 34 can accommodate a person's hand, so that a toilet paper roll 14, the lowermost one which sits on the bottom of elongated receptacle 12, can be grabbed and taken out. When the lowermost toilet-paper roll 14 is removed, the previous roll 14 drops by force of gravity replacing the removed roll. The front wall 22 is provided with an inspection slot 36 for determining the status of toilet-paper rolls 14 therein at a glance.

[0025] In the above embodiment, use can be made of a dispenser fixture 16 of conventional known design and it comprises of a pair of brackets 38 and a spring extending spindle 40 for holding a toilet-paper roll 14, rotatably, in an operation position. Brackets 38 of dispenser fixture 16 extend outwardly from sidewalls, 24, to which they are firmly attached. Should it be desirable to remove the lowermost toilet-paper roll 14, it is merely necessary to disengage the free ends of the spring extending spindle 40 from opposing brackets 38.

[0026] In another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 an elongated receptacle 120 having a shape of a box comprises a front panel 122, sides 124, top 126, bottom 128 and a rear panel 130.

[0027] Screw openings 132 located in the rear panel 130 are adapted to receive screws (not shown) for attaching elongated receptacle 120 flush with a building wall or the like.

[0028] Front panel 122, as in the previous embodiment, terminates upwardly, short of top 126 and provides a loading opening 32 for toilet-paper rolls 14. Front panel 122 terminates downwardly short of bottom 128 and provides a withdrawal opening 34. Front panel 122 is also provided with an inspection slot 36 for determining the status of toilet-paper rolls 14 therein at a glance, or for arranging the rolls 14. Brackets 38 for dispenser fixture 16 extend outwardly from sides 124 to which they are firmly attached. A spring extending spindle 40, located between brackets 38, is used.

[0029] In another aspect of the invention, (see FIGS. 7 and 8) use is made of a dispenser fixture 216, attached to the lower part of elongated receptacle 12, in front of the lowermost toilet-paper roll 14. Dispenser fixture 216 can, equally, be attached to the lower part of elongated receptacle 120.

[0030] Dispenser fixture 216 comprises of a pivotable bracket 218, which extends outwardly from a sidewall 24. Pivotable bracket 218 is hinged to sidewall 24, so that it can be placed perpendicular to it. The latter position is required when the lowermost of the toilet paper rolls 14 must be removed. Substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lowermost toilet-paper roll 14, a rigid spindle 220, is securely attached to a pivotable bracket 218. A cover 222, of curved shape has its interior edge hingedly attached to front wall 22, above withdrawal opening 34. Cover 222 is placed above a toilet-paper roll 14, the latter being in a dispensing position. Cover 222 is laterally provided, at each side, with a panel 224. Panels 224 form a unitary construction with cover 222. The internal distance between panels 224 is slightly larger than the distance between an outside surface of pivotable bracket 218 and the outside end of rigid spindle 220. In operation, when cover 222, is turned down to cover partially toilet-paper roll 14, which is in dispensing position, only a web of paper is visible and can be grabbed and torn along the outside edge of cover 222. Panel 224, close to pivotable bracket 218, prevents the latter to open outwardly; opposite panel 224, prevents toilet-paper roll 14, in dispensing position, to slide off of rigid spindle 220. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. Dispenser of flexible material provided with a multi-roll holder, comprising, in combination: receptacle means having side elements and including a front wall or panel, which extends upwardly, short of an upper part of said receptacle means, and provides a loading opening as to be adaptable for supplying rolls, one by one into said receptacle means, said front wall or panel extending, as well, downwardly, short of a lower part of said receptacle means, provides a withdrawal opening adaptable for removing a roll which is at a bottom of said receptacle means: and dispensing means, located substantially in front of said withdrawal opening at a lower part of said receptacle means, being firmly attached to said receptacle means, whereby the distance between said side elements is slightly greater than the width of said rolls which are used in said receptacle means, while the depth of said receptacle means correspond substantially to the maximum diameter of said rolls.
 2. A dispenser, as defined in claim 1 , wherein said receptacle means incorporates firstly, a rectangular outer frame which forms an open structure or rim and, secondly, an inner frame, a front part of said inner frame being encased by said outer frame, whereby a part of said inner frame which extends outwardly from said outer frame being adaptable to be supported in a recess formed in a wall.
 3. Dispenser of flexible material, as defined in claim 1 , wherein said receptacle means has the shape of a box and is adaptable to be attached flush with a wall.
 4. Dispenser of flexible material adaptable to be attached to a side element and to a lower part of a front element, both said elements being incorporated in a receptacle means adapted for holding several rolls, the lowermost of said several rolls sitting on the bottom of said receptacle means, which dispenser of flexible material comprises: a pivotable bracket, adapted to extend outwardly in a working position from said side element, said pivotable bracket being hinged to said side element; so it can be placed perpendicular to said side element, when it is not in a working position; a rigid spindle firmly attached perpendicular to said pivotable bracket and adaptable to be located parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lowermost roll which sits on the bottom of said receptacle means; and a pivotable cover of curved shape adapted to be hinged with its interior edge to a lower part of said front element, said pivotable cover incorporating, as well, two panels, the internal distance between said two panels being slightly greater than the distance an outside surface of said pivotable bracket and the outside end of said rigid spindle so that it is adaptable to locate a roll. 